Dear Lafayette Parents and Families:
I hope that this note finds you safe and well. At this point in the semester, we are pleased that we have managed to keep the COVID-19 infection rate on campus at low levels, allowing us to move this week to Operational Level 1, which allows more flexibility in student activities. Much of our success reflects good decisions being made by your students, who are by and large abiding by our safety protocols. I appreciate their efforts and understanding as we continue to negotiate this unusual semester.
As you know, the start of this crisis one year ago led us to rescind the tuition increase that had been planned for the 2020-21 academic year. Unlike many peer institutions, we froze our tuition, and offered a 10 percent reduction to students who studied from home, because we recognized that this year’s experience would be a challenge for families in every way, including financially. We took those steps even though we faced significantly higher expenses because of the virus, costs that we offset by reductions to compensation for faculty and staff, cuts to departmental operating budgets, and other expense reductions.
As vaccine distribution progresses across the nation and around the globe, we are hopeful that the 2021-22 academic year will move us closer to normalcy. Still, we know that many families will continue to face financial challenges as the economy moves through a recovery.
We are pleased that next year’s tuition will increase by only 2.5 percent, to $55,874. When combined with charges for room and board and student fees, the total cost of attendance will be $73,034. Both amounts are lower than the original costs for the current year, prior to the rescission of the increase.
Here is the breakdown for next year’s total costs:
Excluding last year’s tuition freeze, this is the lowest percent increase in more than 10 years. While the costs associated with providing an exceptional educational experience continue to rise, we do our best to control the increases passed along to families through careful budget management and active fundraising. We continue to offer significant financial aid to make Lafayette more affordable for families.
As the parent of a recent college graduate myself, I understand and appreciate the level of sacrifice that you are making. Quality education is an important and expensive investment, and we are dedicated to providing a liberal arts education that will enrich your student’s life, career, and future.
Thank you for your support of Lafayette during this challenging time, and your commitment to a bright future for your student.
Sincerely,
President Alison Byerly